Good morning from high atop LeConte. The 2014 crew made their way, through slush and ice, to the lodge. We took the evening to get settled and to get to know each other. It is always interesting to learn about the folks who will be your family, not only for the next 8 1/2 months, but for the rest of your life. We have family all over this nation, and we can thank Mt. LeConte for that. The mountain is a little chilly at the moment. The current temperature is 29º with 3" of snow on the ground. The high yesterday was 42º. The low was 11º, but that was from the start of yesterday morning. The trails were pretty slushy yesterday. There are a lot of patches of ice. We used our traction devices and we had no problem. Some of the ice walkers you can look for are Micro Spikes, Yak Traks, or Stabilicers. On a different note, Chris and I are sad, but excited about our future, to announce that this is our 12th and final season on the mountain. This job has been a life changer and we are the luckiest people alive to have called this home for 12 years. It took some major soul searching to make this decision, but we think it is time to let someone else call this mountain home and bring some new energy to the lodge. Remember, change is always a good thing. Before you start asking what we are going to do next, I will let you all know in November. I will keep you guessing for the next 8 1/2 months. And last but not least, I am going to turn the comment section back on. Here are the rules:1.) Keep to topic.2.) Ask questions that are in reference to the lodge or the trail conditions. 3.) The last one is key- BE NICEI do not have the ability to ban anyone from this site. I also do not have time to monitor it every waking moment. Please, folks, let's have fun and act like adults and I will keep the comment section up and running. Let the 2014 season begin. :)

Randall Belcher

3/15/2014 01:49:52 am

Looking forward to seeing y'all this summer and spending some time at the Lodge. Really excited that our friends Jeanie and Pat are there this season. Make em work ! Haha

Debi

3/15/2014 02:00:44 am

Welcome back Allyson! May this last year be one of your best. Looking forward to hearing about the new crew.

Debi

3/15/2014 02:02:50 am

Opps, just noticed you have updated meet the crew sight.

Cara

3/15/2014 02:05:27 am

My husband & I will be coming up the first weekend of April to camp at Elkmont & climb Le Conte. It will be a first for both of us! We've traveled to the Smokies so much & love it! It's our favorite place on earth. We've both wanted to climb Le Conte but I've never been physically able to. I'm now, after losing almost 100lbs through diet & exercise, am in the best shape of my life & am ready to take on that mountain!!! Since you guys are seasoned veterans of this mountain can you tell us what kind of conditions we should expect to encounter? I want to be well prepared so this will be an enjoyable & memorable experience!!

Gina

3/15/2014 02:37:22 am

Congrats on your wonderful accomplishment

Scott

3/15/2014 02:40:19 am

Congratulations on being able to climb this mountain. That s quite an achievement on losing all that weight. My wife and I climbed it last April for the first time.

Jacque

3/15/2014 02:07:38 am

Wish we were able to join you this year, but we have a new baby due in June. Have a wonderful season - we'll try to see you in 2015!

Val

3/15/2014 02:16:14 am

Wondering when the air lift will be taking place?

H Clark

3/15/2014 02:34:07 am

Welcome back for the season. Will see you sometime this year and I'm sure the mountain will have a active season.

Gina

3/15/2014 02:36:40 am

Welcome back. That's some bittersweet news. Happy for ya'll!!!

Blaine

3/15/2014 02:46:15 am

Goodmorning, thanks for your post this morning, my fiance' and I are hiking up there via the rainbow falls route on saturday 22nd of Mar. I am a very experienced hiker, however she isn't, we both very active othewise. However she is a bit concerned about the difficulty of this hike based on some of her research. I will prob carry a small pack with some water and lunch for us, and she may carry a smaller one, and she will have my trekking poles. No crampons or anything. I would be intersted in some feedback I may be able to share with her in effort to help her feel a bit more comfortable about the hike. Thanks ahead of time for any input...have a great weekend

Nadine

3/15/2014 06:08:41 am

Before our first trip to the lodge using Rainbow Falls, a ranger warned us that the trail goes "unrelentingly up". But we made it, despite being from the flatlands of central Illinois. If you are active, you can do it.

Rainbow Falls is a very rock trail so make sure you have good hiking shoes. I recommend trekking poles if you have knee issues. Your joints will thanks you on the way down.

Scott

3/15/2014 04:14:06 pm

Blaine, is there a reason that you are going the Rainbow Falls route? Our first time up we went Alum Cave. That way seems pretty easy to the Alum Cave point, but then it does get harder. Took us about 3 1/2 hours to make it up top. You will meet a lot of nice people along the way lying to you by telling you you are almost there :)

Blaine

3/16/2014 12:53:28 am

we chose the rainbow trails trail particularly because we can go up rainbow and back down bull head, thought we could get two trails in one hike. However we may consider the Alum trail based on alot of research I am doing, only because she is a bit of a beginner. How close to the edge on the cliffs are you? And how often are you the cliff edge trails? Thank you for your your info, it is greatly appreciated

Anne

3/16/2014 02:30:15 am

The comments below are valid. And I would add that Bullhead is even rougher. I think it's the hardest trail there. Trillium is much easier. Alum Cave is steeper but has great views and is the shortest. There are several places where you are right on the edge bit most have a cable to hold to. I've done all trails and will be making my 19 th trip up in two weeks. I always take ice gear and use 2 trekking poles. I reccommend Alum Cave.

Stefanie

3/15/2014 03:05:26 am

Allison,I am saddened by the news of you and Chris leaving the mountain. You are part of Leconte, that welcoming comfort that hikers get when we reach the top. I am excited for you. Can't wait to hear about your next adventure.

Sherrie Rogers

3/15/2014 03:10:11 am

Glad to see you all made it safe and sound! My daughter nicholette joined your crew this year and I know she'll be truly blessed by this experience. Can't wait to hike up again to visit!

Paulrom

3/15/2014 03:10:43 am

Welcome back Chris and Allison and crew. Hope you had a good vacation. You will be missed on the mountain. I have been staying at the lodge since 1995 and you have made many great changes in the last 11 years. Sad to see y'all go but hope you have an exciting new adventure for the next stage in your lives together. Hope someone throws y'all a big going away party. See you in October.

I've only met you once or twice, Allyson and Chris, and I want to express my own compliments for your work at Leconte Lodge. If I was coming up soon I'd bring you some more of those Cadbury chocolate eggs I brought up once before ! Accomplishments are achievements that constitute the makeup of one's life and should be applauded. They are things or pride and your evident pride in your duties has been outstanding. So, with gratitude, appreciation, and admiration I wish you luck. Remember: "The journey is the destination, for no matter where you go, there you are." G'day

IN Tony

3/15/2014 03:37:23 am

Glad you are all back safe and sound.
I will be hiking up next Friday and I have two questions. Will the water pump by the office be operational by Friday the 21st? Secondly, will the office or dining hall be available for me to get inside to eat my lunch?
Thank you so much for your response.

Knoxville Bob

3/15/2014 04:48:55 am

You want to walk up that mountain to eat lunch inside? What gives?

IN Tony

3/15/2014 04:53:08 am

@Knoxville Bob.....lol. Just in case of inclement weather. I don't mind hiking in rain just not fond of eating in the rain. But I'm hiking either way. Can't get here fast enough.

Pat N.

3/15/2014 04:41:33 am

Welcome back to your mountain home...which it will always be...perhaps not physically, but always in your heart. Here's wishing the entire crew a successful airlift and a glorious season. Looking forward to a trek or two...or more to LeConte!

Tony Ga

3/15/2014 04:41:38 am

Welcome back!

Terry

3/15/2014 05:39:00 am

Great to hear from y'all! Six days with no LeConte news we were going into withdrawals!

Ron Adams

3/15/2014 06:02:14 am

Cara, congrats for the weight loss! Takes discipline for sure. I admire you for that.
What to expect? In April, expect anything. Snow, ice, sun, rain and so on. I once hiked up LeConte in a driving rain, then it turned to snow, then sun, and wind, and then ice that evening. Read up on the mountain, and take clothes and equipment for all 4 seasons, for sometimes, that is what you get going up the mountain. Enjoy!

Melissa

3/15/2014 06:53:59 am

Welcome welcome back! I look forward to your posts and pictures! Glad the 2014 season has begun!! Yay

Barbara

3/15/2014 07:31:39 am

Allyson, so glad you and Chris are back! So sad this will be your last year. Are we allowed to guess what your next endeavors will be AND if we guess right will you tell us? See you in August.

Donnie R

3/15/2014 09:13:07 am

Welcome back ! Sooo LOVE checking in on my favorite Mtn. Thank's for all you do ;)

Ccp

3/15/2014 11:27:52 am

Great news! So incredibly glad to see this post!

Dianne

3/15/2014 01:09:27 pm

Welcome back! I will miss JP but I am also looking forward to your posts! Have a wonderfull spring/summer!

elktonbrant

3/15/2014 03:13:46 pm

Crew back on the mountain means only one thing... the world-famous LeConte "no bake" cookies are just around the corner... YEA!

Lesley

3/16/2014 03:50:41 am

So excited to join the crew this year- I'll be the latecomer, joining in May just as soon as I graduate! Counting down the days till I get to meet everyone!

Helena

3/17/2014 10:30:57 am

Missing my sister Nicholette already! Hope you had fun scrubbing them walls! We can't wait to make the big climb to see you this summer!
Psalms 121:1-8

Elisabeth

3/17/2014 12:21:59 pm

welcome HOME! (smile) Glad to have you back. As soon as Trillium (Grotto) opens I will be coming your way. I came up Alum on feb 28th and it had A LOT of ice...so I am looking forward to Trillium, for a change of pace. I also feel that Rainbow is a harder trail, especially for a beginner. Cant wait to see this years shirt, in person!

Leigh

3/30/2014 04:19:51 am

Allyson, just wanted to say thank you for the great job you do. My mom and I check your posts everyday, and it makes us feel close to the mountains - even when we're far away at home. We feel we've come to know you over the years, and we'll sure miss you when this season comes to a close. Hope you have a great year!

Comments are closed.

LeConte Lodge

Welcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain!